The mother of a horse sanctuary worked who was killed in Pitsea has described her death as "absolutely devastating" to her family.

Laura Davies, 21, was killed outside the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society, in Pitsea Hall Lane, on the evening of Friday, July 3.

Her mother, Dyanne Lambert, said: "She was a very loving child who lived for her horses.

"She had been riding since she was three-years-old when she had her first pony. She had worked at the horse sanctuary for two and half years and it was her life.

"We miss her dreadfully and are struggling to come to terms with what happened. We all miss her, especially her older brother and sister and her three young nieces Tamsin, Lilly and Darci-Rae.”

Laura's funeral is being held on Friday, at 11.20am, at Basildon Crematorium. Friends of Laura are welcome to attend. People can bring flowers or they are asked to make a donation to the Laura Davies Fund via the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society.

A donation page for the fund, which will go towards an animal welfare project in Laura's memory, has already raised more than £1,000.

Jordan Taylor, 22, of Basildon, has been charged with Laura’s murder. He will next appear in court on September 7.